Share love, joy and hope with The Salvation Army this Christmas

The Salvation Army is calling on people to share love and hope this Christmas by donating new toys to its Christmas Present Appeal to help give children a Christmas they deserve. The Christmas Present Appeal helps families who are already making impossible choices between food, heating, and bills.  

Every year, thanks to the kindness of our supporters, more than 68,000 Christmas gifts are lovingly shared by many of The Salvation Army churches and centres across the UK. Each one is a message of hope for someone experiencing hardship, homelessness, or tough times. Since 2022, more than 206,000 Christmas gifts have been delivered by The Salvation Army to families who can’t afford to buy gifts for their children. 

The church and charity also provides practical support to people experiencing homelessness and poverty, offering food, friendship, a sense of belonging, and sharing in the love of Jesus.  

It’s for people like Cathy we are there for. Cathy fled an abusive relationship with her two young children, trying to make ends meet as a single mother as Christmas approached. The Salvation Army stepped in and supported Cathy through its annual Christmas Present Appeal and food support. And the help for Cathy didn’t stop there; she has since found friendship and a community to be a part of through The Salvation Army’s weekly women’s group which has in turn boosted her mental health.  

Major Kerry Coke, The Salvation Army’s Assistant Secretary for Mission, said: “This Christmas, The Salvation Army is putting belief into action, showing love where it’s needed most. We’re there for people who are experiencing homelessness, poverty or hardship, bringing warmth. From a hot meal on a freezing night, to a Christmas present for a child who might otherwise go without – we’re here to show that love is alive, active and near. 

“Churches and community centres across the UK will be offering practical support, care and a powerful reminder that people are not alone. This is shown through our Christmas Present Appeal, which distributes gifts to children whose families are struggling to make ends meet. We believe every child deserves to wake up on Christmas Day with a smile on their face.  

“We will also be on the ground providing parcels for people who are homeless or struggling financially, Christmas meals, friendship and of course providing the soundtrack to Christmas with Salvation Army bands playing on high streets up and down the country. 

“Love came down at Christmas in the person of Jesus Christ, and today that same love still reaches out.”   

Please check with your local Salvation Army to see what they are offering over the festive period, to see whether they are taking part in the Christmas Present Appeal and for gift ideas https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/christmas-present-appeal    

In addition, toy retailer, The Entertainer has partnered with The Salvation Army for the past seven years to help bring joy on Christmas Day to children who may otherwise go without through their Big Toy Appeal. The appeal works by customers of The Entertainer being encouraged to buy toys to donate to the appeal in store and for every toy a customer buys, the Entertainer matches the donation. More than 115,000 toys have been donated by The Entertainer since 2018. The appeal runs from 1 to 29 November, with delivery of toys to Salvation Army churches expected in early December.  

A church and charity, The Salvation Army expresses its Christian faith by offering friendship, practical help and support to some of the most disadvantaged people in our communities. To help support The Salvation Army’s year-round work please visit: salvationarmy.org.uk/donate